So technically it was my 2nd victory, but the first one doesn't count (The Drath had 4/5 alliances and close relations with the fifth team for a good portion of the game, never going for a diplomatic victory, and I ended up just spamming influence starbases everywhere with basically no military support). This game was much more satisfying. (Note: Due to the consumerism of the holiday season, I only have DL, have to save money for presents).
What made this victory all the more enjoyable was that when I turned off my computer last night (er...this morning...) I did not think I was going to win. The Drath were dominating me military-wise and technology-wise (the two went hand in hand, they had battleships and dreadnaughts whereas I was only up to a couple of large scale ships, since I had stolen Large Scale building from them) and they had already declared war on me twice, and I had only just appeased them the second time when I turned off the computer. Things were looking grim.
Until I started brushing my teeth, which is when I realized "What are you doing? You're the Korx, you're evil! You should be conquering people, not trying to get peace!" Which was an adequate description of what I was doing, I was afraid of the Drath's might, so I was hoping to eventually become allies with them. During my second war with them, I realized I had close relations with the Yor, but I didn't want to become allies since I was thinking I'd sell them out down the road to become allies with the remaining races.) So I came up with a new plan, wipe out the Terrans and the Thalans (the other two races), become allies with the Yor, and take down the Drath together. I went to sleep last night (this morning) feeling alright.
Until I looked at the game again today and realized that the Drath military was powerful enough to steamroll me if I sidetracked myself on the Terrans and Thalans. Hmm, I don't want to engage the Drath, since they can kill me, but I also don't want to leave them alone, since they can kill me. I decided my only possible win strategy was a blitz, a synchronized invasion of all the planets I can take, leaving Dratha for a large scale invasion later since they had a Dreadnaught camped there with some other ships. I begin taking down their planets and during one raid stole Massive-Scale building, and eventually take down Dratha. The remaining civs were a cakewalk compared to the Drath (I did become allies with the Yor since the Terrans declared war on me during my Dratha invasion, but I could've easily beaten them too.) End result: Diplomatic Victory.
